From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley, March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor.
Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps. Hale is most well known as Dagwood Bumstead's boss, Julius Caesar Dithers, in the Blondie film series in the 1940s. He is also notable for playing Inspector Fernack in various The Saint films by RKO Pictures.
In 1950 he made two appearances in The Cisco Kid as Barry Owens. He also appeared in two different episodes of Adventures of Superman: "The Evil Three", in which he played a murderous "Southern Colonel"-type character, and "Panic in the Sky", one of the most famous episodes, in which he played the lead astronomer at the Metropolis Observatory, actually a California observatory.
Among the relatively few television programs on which Hale appeared are the religion anthology series Crossroads, The Loretta Young Show, Brave Eagle, Schlitz Playhouse, The Joey Bishop Show, and Walt Disney Presents: "A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris".
Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966. He was found dead that evening in his room at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Hale had taken his own life with a .38 caliber pistol, which was found near his body. He was 74. Hale was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. Sadly, Hale's grave went unmarked for more than four decades, until a proper headstone was erected by donations from the "Dearly Departed" fan-based group in 2013; he is now honored with the inscription, "We Remembered You".
Known For
Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Mr. Antony
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Guy Francon (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
Fury
(1936)
Defense Attorney
Boys Town
(1938)
John Hargraves
A Night at the Opera
(1935)
The Stage Manager (uncredited)
Hangmen Also Die!
(1943)
Dedic
Dakota
(1945)
Col. Wordin
Johnny Belinda
(1948)
Dr. Horace M. Gray (uncredited)
Hollywood Canteen
(1944)
Mr. Brodel (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
(1937)
District Attorney (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Judge George J. Parris (uncredited)
Jack London
(1943)
Kerwin Maxwell
Thunder Afloat
(1939)
Admiral Girard
'G' Men
(1935)
Congressman (uncredited)
In Name Only
(1939)
Dr. Gateson
Full Filmography
Acting
Gentlemen Are Born
(1934)
Second Broker
A Lost Lady
(1934)
(uncredited)
The Case of the Howling Dog
(1934)
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Lightning Strikes Twice
(1934)
Capt. Nelson
Housewife
(1934)
Doctor
A Night at the Ritz
(1935)
Director (uncredited)
'G' Men
(1935)
Congressman (uncredited)
One New York Night
(1935)
Mr. Stokes
If You Could Only Cook
(1935)
Henry Brown - Member of Board of Directors (uncredited)
The Calling of Dan Matthews
(1935)
Club Owner (uncredited)
Navy Wife
(1935)
Norton
Hit-and-Run Driver
(1935)
Captain James (uncredited)
Let 'em Have It
(1935)
Microscopic Expert
Page Miss Glory
(1935)
Husband at Train Station (uncredited)
Too Tough to Kill
(1935)
Chairman of the Board
Alice Adams
(1935)
Mr. Palmer
The Raven
(1935)
Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)
A Night at the Opera
(1935)
The Stage Manager (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
(1935)
Gangster
Public Hero Number 1
(1935)
Prison Board Member (uncredited)
The Devil is a Sissy
(1936)
Judge Holmes
Charlie Chan's Secret
(1936)
Warren T. Phelps
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
(1936)
Warren Fenton
Three Live Ghosts
(1936)
Detective Bolton
The Accusing Finger
(1936)
Special Prosecutor
Spendthrift
(1936)
Attorney
Panic on the Air
(1936)
Johnson
Sinner Take All
(1936)
Dr. Harrison (uncredited)
Fury
(1936)
Defense Attorney
Sutter's Gold
(1936)
Prosecuting Attorney
Educating Father
(1936)
Fred Humphrey
Too Many Parents
(1936)
Judge
The Case Against Mrs. Ames
(1936)
First trial judge
The Singing Kid
(1936)
Dr. Brown (uncredited)
The Voice of Bugle Ann
(1936)
District Attorney
You May Be Next!
(1936)
Army Officer (uncredited)
36 Hours to Kill
(1936)
Mac - Train Conductor
Flying Hostess
(1936)
Kendall
China Clipper
(1936)
State Department Official (uncredited)
Happy Go Lucky
(1936)
J. Lansing Bennett
The League of Frightened Men
(1937)
Alexander Drummond
Saratoga
(1937)
Frank Clayton
You Can't Buy Luck
(1937)
Prosecutor (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Olympics
(1937)
Mr. Hopkins
Outcast
(1937)
She's Dangerous
(1937)
Charles Fitzgerald
Madame X
(1937)
Hugh Fariman Sr.
John Meade's Woman
(1937)
Mr. Melton
This Is My Affair
(1937)
Judge
You Only Live Once
(1937)
District Attorney (uncredited)
Big Town Girl
(1937)
Hershell
Wings Over Honolulu
(1937)
Judge Advocate
Man Of The People
(1937)
Carter Spetner
Exiled to Shanghai
(1937)
J.B. Willet
Danger – Love at Work
(1937)
Parsons, an attorney
Racketeers in Exile
(1937)
Alden Parker
Sea Devils
(1937)
Court-Martial President (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Judge George J. Parris (uncredited)
Midnight Madonna
(1937)
Stuart Kirkland
The Man Who Found Himself
(1937)
Dr. Tom Smythe
The Saint in New York
(1938)
Inspector Henry Fernack
Yellow Jack
(1938)
Major General Leonard Wood
Over the Wall
(1938)
Governor James McDonald
Arsène Lupin Returns
(1938)
F.B.I. Special Agent
The Duke of West Point
(1938)
Steven's Father
The First Hundred Years
(1938)
Judge Parker
Road Demon
(1938)
Anderson
Boys Town
(1938)
John Hargraves
Tarnished Angel
(1938)
Detective Sgt. Cramer
Crime Ring
(1938)
Bank President
Breaking the Ice
(1938)
Mr. Kane
There's That Woman Again
(1938)
Rolfe Davis
Blondie
(1938)
Mr. Dithers
Her Jungle Love
(1938)
J.C. Martin
Wives Under Suspicion
(1938)
Allison
Fugitives for a Night
(1938)
Police Captain
Gangs of New York
(1938)
Warden
Men with Wings
(1938)
Long
Judge Hardy's Children
(1938)
John Lee
Letter of Introduction
(1938)
Lou Woodstock (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
(1939)
Admiral Girard
The Big Guy
(1939)
Jack Lane
In Name Only
(1939)
Dr. Gateson
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
(1939)
President of Western Union
The Saint Strikes Back
(1939)
Inspector Henry Fernack
One Against the World
(1939)
Dr. Ephraim McDowell
Blondie Brings Up Baby
(1939)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Meets the Boss
(1939)
J.C. Dithars
Wings of the Navy
(1939)
Commandant
Tail Spin
(1939)
Racing Official Starter (Uncredited)
The Amazing Mr. Williams
(1939)
Mayor
Barricade
(1939)
Assistant Secretary of State
In Old Monterey
(1939)
Stevenson
Stand Up and Fight
(1939)
Colonel Webb
Melody and Moonlight
(1940)
Otis Barnett
Johnny Apollo
(1940)
Dr. Brown
Dulcy
(1940)
Homer Patterson
The Saint's Double Trouble
(1940)
Inspector Henry Fernack
The Saint Takes Over
(1940)
Inspector Henry Fernack
Blondie Has Servant Trouble
(1940)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Plays Cupid
(1940)
J.C. Dithers
We Who Are Young
(1940)
Braddock
Private Affairs
(1940)
George Gilkin
Flight from Destiny
(1941)
Dist. Atty. Johnson
Her First Beau
(1941)
Mr. Harris
The Saint In Palm Springs
(1941)
Inspector Henry Fernack
Strange Alibi
(1941)
Police Chief Sprague
The Pittsburgh Kid
(1941)
Max Ellison
Ringside Maisie
(1941)
Dr. Kramer
The Great Swindle
(1941)
Swann
Blondie in Society
(1941)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Goes Latin
(1941)
J.C. Dithers
The Bugle Sounds
(1942)
Brigadier-General
Calling Dr. Gillespie
(1942)
Frank M. Todwell
Miss Annie Rooney
(1942)
Mr. Martin White
Flight Lieutenant
(1942)
Joseph Sanford
Blondie for Victory
(1942)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Goes to College
(1942)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie's Blessed Event
(1942)
J.C. Dithers
Joe Smith, American
(1942)
Blake McKettrick
Lone Star Ranger
(1942)
Judge Longstreth
There's Something About a Soldier
(1943)
Gen. Sommerton
Nobody's Darling
(1943)
Jason Rhodes
The Rear Gunner
(1943)
Commanding Officer
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
(1943)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
(1943)
Mr. Fox
Hangmen Also Die!
(1943)
Dedic
Jack London
(1943)
Kerwin Maxwell
It's a Great Life
(1943)
J.C. Dithers
Footlight Glamour
(1943)
J.C. Dithers
The Black Parachute
(1944)
King Stephen
Hollywood Canteen
(1944)
Mr. Brodel (uncredited)
Dead Man's Eyes
(1944)
Dr. Sam Welles
End of the Road
(1944)
Gregory McCune
My Buddy
(1944)
Senator Henry
This Is the Life
(1944)
Dr. Plum
The Phantom Speaks
(1945)
Owen McAllister
Man Alive
(1945)
Osborne
Dakota
(1945)
Col. Wordin
Allotment Wives
(1945)
Brig. Gen. H.N. Gilbert
Divorce
(1945)
Judge
The Strange Mr. Gregory
(1945)
Defense Attorney Blair
Life with Blondie
(1945)
J.C. Dithers
Leave It to Blondie
(1945)
J.C. Dithers
Watchtower Over Tomorrow
(1945)
Security Council Chair
G.I. Honeymoon
(1945)
Colonel Hammerhead Smith
Riverboat Rhythm
(1946)
Col. Edward Beeler
Rolling Home
(1946)
Henry Kane
Wife Wanted
(1946)
Philip Conway
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
(1946)
Captain Griffin
The Cat Creeps
(1946)
Walter Elliott
Blondie's Lucky Day
(1946)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Knows Best
(1946)
J.C. Dithers
Easy to Wed
(1946)
Hector Boswell
Gay Blades
(1946)
Whittlesey
Angel on My Shoulder
(1946)
Citizens for Better Government Chairman (uncredited)
The Beginning or the End
(1947)
Dr. Vannevar Bush
The Ghost Goes Wild
(1947)
Max Atterbury
High Wall
(1947)
Emory Garrison
The Vigilantes Return
(1947)
Judge Holden
Black Gold
(1947)
Senator Watkins
Her Husband's Affairs
(1947)
Gov. Fox
Johnny Belinda
(1948)
Dr. Horace M. Gray (uncredited)
Disaster
(1948)
Police Commissioner Jerome
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
Silver River
(1948)
Major Spencer
Rocky
(1948)
Kenneth Forrester
Tap Roots
(1948)
Gen. Johnston (uncredited)
Rose of the Yukon
(1949)
Gen. Butler
A Dangerous Profession
(1949)
State Department: File 649
(1949)
Director-General
The Judge
(1949)
Judge Allan J. Brooks
Stampede
(1949)
Varick
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Guy Francon (uncredited)
Federal Agent at Large
(1950)
James Goodwin
Short Grass
(1950)
Charlie Bissel
Triple Trouble
(1950)
The Judge
The Baron of Arizona
(1950)
Governor
Three Husbands
(1950)
Edward Wurdeman - Attorney at Law
The Tall Target
(1951)
Passenger from Carolina (uncredited)
Rodeo King and the Senorita
(1951)
Dr. Sands
Sunny Side of the Street
(1951)
Cyrus Pelley
Insurance Investigator
(1951)
Russell James
Let's Go Navy!
(1951)
Captain
Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Mr. Antony
Young Man with Ideas
(1952)
Stanley Rickson (uncredited)
Behind Southern Lines
(1952)
General
Son of Paleface
(1952)
Governor Freeman (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
(1952)
Frank Madison
The Steel Trap
(1952)
Tom Bowers
Kansas Pacific
(1953)
Sherman Johnson
The Flaming Urge
(1953)
Mr. Chalmers
Taxi
(1953)
Mr. Barker (uncredited)
She Couldn't Say No
(1954)
John Bentley
Duffy of San Quentin
(1954)
Boyd
Cattle Queen of Montana
(1954)
Politician (uncredited)
The Night Holds Terror
(1955)
Bob Henderson
The Three Outlaws
(1956)
Pinkerton
Jaguar
(1956)
Dr. Powell